Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union
Encyclopedia
United Voice, formerly known as the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union (LHMU) (the "Missos") is a large Australian trade union
, with around 130,000 members. United Voice members work in a wide range of occupations including hospitality
, childcare, teachers' aides, aged care, property services (cleaning, security, maintenance etc.), health
, manufacturing
, ambulance
workers (in some states) and community services.
The union took its new name of United Voice effective 1 March 2011.
in the mid-1990s also lost the union several thousand members.
In recent years, the union has reported a small but important membership growth - going against the trend of most union membership figures in Australia. Its major campaign for cleaners called Clean Start:Fair Deal for Cleaners is inspired by the successful U.S. campaign Justice for Janitors and has organised many new cleaners in CBD office blocks across Australia.
United Voice had humble beginnings, with the FMWU starting off as a union of watchmen
, caretaker
s and cleaners with 1400 members in 1916.
After steady growth over the first half of the century, including winning paid sick leave
, annual leave
and a forty-hour week, the union really took off in the 1950s. A new rank-and-file leadership took over to create a vibrant, member-driven union.
Famous campaigns during the 1950s and 60s included organising workers paid to be Santa Claus
es at Christmas
and a group of dance
instructors who were locked out for four months before winning their jobs back.
The strength of the "Missos" grew over these years, with membership increasing from 25,000 in 1955 to 88,000 by 1975.
By the early 1990s, the LHMU had become powerful with close links to Labor
politicians such as Bob Hawke
, Neville Wran
and Lionel Murphy
. These links continue with prominent Labor
ministers Penny Wong
and Mark Butler
both former LHMU SA branch officials.
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
, with around 130,000 members. United Voice members work in a wide range of occupations including hospitality
Hospitality
Hospitality is the relationship between guest and host, or the act or practice of being hospitable. Specifically, this includes the reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers, resorts, membership clubs, conventions, attractions, special events, and other services for travelers...
, childcare, teachers' aides, aged care, property services (cleaning, security, maintenance etc.), health
Health
Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain...
, manufacturing
Manufacturing
Manufacturing is the use of machines, tools and labor to produce goods for use or sale. The term may refer to a range of human activity, from handicraft to high tech, but is most commonly applied to industrial production, in which raw materials are transformed into finished goods on a large scale...
, ambulance
Ambulance
An ambulance is a vehicle for transportation of sick or injured people to, from or between places of treatment for an illness or injury, and in some instances will also provide out of hospital medical care to the patient...
workers (in some states) and community services.
The union took its new name of United Voice effective 1 March 2011.
History
United Voice is an amalgamation of the Federated Miscellaneous Workers' Union (FMWU) and Liquor Trades Union (LTU). This merger occurred in 1992 and the new union, known as the LHMU, had 200,000 members. Today it has around 130,000 members. The decline in membership can be explained by the end of compulsory unionism in 1996 and a lack of an organising focus until recent times. The move of flight catering and aircraft cleaning staff to join the Transport Workers UnionTransport Workers Union of Australia
The Transport Workers Union of Australia is a trade union with over 80,000 members throughout Australia. It has 5 main branches in Australia* Australian Capital Territory/New South Wales* Queensland* Victoria/Tasmania...
in the mid-1990s also lost the union several thousand members.
In recent years, the union has reported a small but important membership growth - going against the trend of most union membership figures in Australia. Its major campaign for cleaners called Clean Start:Fair Deal for Cleaners is inspired by the successful U.S. campaign Justice for Janitors and has organised many new cleaners in CBD office blocks across Australia.
United Voice had humble beginnings, with the FMWU starting off as a union of watchmen
Security guard
A security guard is a person who is paid to protect property, assets, or people. Security guards are usually privately and formally employed personnel...
, caretaker
Property caretaker
A Property caretaker is a person, group or organization that cares for real estate for trade or financial compensation, and sometimes as a barter for rent-free living accommodations...
s and cleaners with 1400 members in 1916.
After steady growth over the first half of the century, including winning paid sick leave
Sick leave
Sick leave is time off from work that workers can use during periods of temporary illness to stay home and address their health and safety needs without losing pay. Some workplaces offer paid sick time as a matter of workplace policy, and in few jurisdictions it is codified into law...
, annual leave
Annual leave
Annual leave is paid time off work granted by employers to employees to be used for whatever the employee wishes. Depending on the employer's policies, differing number of days may be offered, and the employee may be required to give a certain amount of advance notice, may have to coordinate with...
and a forty-hour week, the union really took off in the 1950s. A new rank-and-file leadership took over to create a vibrant, member-driven union.
Famous campaigns during the 1950s and 60s included organising workers paid to be Santa Claus
Santa Claus
Santa Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus...
es at Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
and a group of dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
instructors who were locked out for four months before winning their jobs back.
The strength of the "Missos" grew over these years, with membership increasing from 25,000 in 1955 to 88,000 by 1975.
By the early 1990s, the LHMU had become powerful with close links to Labor
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
politicians such as Bob Hawke
Bob Hawke
Robert James Lee "Bob" Hawke AC GCL was the 23rd Prime Minister of Australia from March 1983 to December 1991 and therefore longest serving Australian Labor Party Prime Minister....
, Neville Wran
Neville Wran
Neville Kenneth Wran, AC, CNZM, QC was the Premier of New South Wales from 1976 until 1986. He was National President of the Australian Labor Party from 1980 to 1986 and Chairman of both the Lionel Murphy Foundation and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation from 1986...
and Lionel Murphy
Lionel Murphy
Lionel Keith Murphy, QC was an Australian politician and jurist who served as Attorney-General in the government of Gough Whitlam and as a Justice of the High Court of Australia from 1975 until his death.- Personal life :...
. These links continue with prominent Labor
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
ministers Penny Wong
Penny Wong
Penelope "Penny" Ying-yen Wong , is an Australian Labor Party senator for South Australia and the Federal Minister for Finance and Deregulation. Wong was the first Australian Minister for Climate Change and Water. Her appointment was amended on 26 February 2010, by the Prime Minister, to the...
and Mark Butler
Mark Butler
Mark Christopher Butler has been the Australian Labor Party representative for the electoral division of Port Adelaide in north-western Adelaide, South Australia since the 2007 federal election, succeeding prior Labor MP Rod Sawford....
both former LHMU SA branch officials.